see the bellybutton?
some other gator stuff:
and details of an iguana:
some other stuff he just finished:
a model he is working on for me right now:
preliminary design:
it will not be built on that last
(my chisel toed boot last)
but on the almond shoe last
which was being replicated at this moment
adjustments to be made:
the collar of the shoe to be made higher

This is the funniest post I've seen in quite a while. I'm not being sarcastic, I got a genuine laugh out of this. The link is icing on the cake. Not sure if you are serious or have an incredible sense of humor but, this works.

That looks really complicated.
I wonder how many times young cordwainers have tried these multi-pattern uppers only to get to the lasting stage to find it doesn't fit around the last.

Click to expand...

Shoemakers often design directly off the last. The basic shapes...known as the "formes"...were generated on the last before they became paper patterns and then leather components.

All things being equal, there is no reason the patterns will fail to fit the last during lasting. The assembled uppers should very nearly fall onto the last--they started on the last, they are simply returning to the last.

--

Without "good" there is no "better," without "better," no "best."
And without the recognition that there is a hierarchy of excellence in all things, nothing rises above the level of mundane.​